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My Houzz: ‘Empire’ Star Taraji P. Henson Gives Stepmom a Remodel

The actress causes tears of joy with this surprise makeover of her stepmother’s kitchen, living room and dining room

Mitchell Parker May 9, 2021

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More

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One thing that guides actress Taraji P. Henson through life is something her late father used to say to her: “If you have been blessed, then it is your duty to go out into the world and be a blessing.”

The Golden Globe-winning actress known for her roles in the TV series Empire and the movie Hidden Figures recently put her father’s advice to good use. She surprised her stepmom, Angela Henson, by renovating Angela’s kitchen, dining room and living room to create a more open floor plan with a new, better-functioning kitchen. “I feel like I’m doing what my dad told me to do,” Taraji says.

My Houzz: 'Empire' Star Taraji P. Henson Gives Stepmom a Remodel

Taraji P. Henson stands in front of her stepmom’s home, which she remodeled as a surprise. “Before” photos by Studio Trejo; “after” photos by Kelli Kroneberger

Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Angela Henson, a former librarian at the Pentagon and the stepmother of actress Taraji P. Henson
Location: near Washington, D.C.
Size: 650 square feet (60 square meters) total for the living room, kitchen and dining room
Designer: Stephanie Gamble Interiors
General contractor: Winchester Construction

Watch now: See Angela Henson’s tearful reaction to her newly renovated home

Before Photo

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

Before: Taraji’s dad, Boris Henson, married Angela when Taraji was 16 years old. “She just made my dad a better man,” Taraji says. “She stepped into his life, and she was everything he needed. I was so happy. I just loved her right away. You need a meal, you need clothes, you need somebody to watch your kids, your dog — whatever it is, Angie’s there for you.”

On a recent visit to see her stepmom, Taraji, whose father passed away in 2006, noticed that the kitchen had seen better days. She opened a drawer only to have it fall apart in her hands. (The remnants of that drawer are shown in this photo at the bottom left.) That’s when Taraji decided she had to do something.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

After: For help with the project, Taraji found interior designer Stephanie Gamble by searching the Houzz directory for local professionals near Washington, D.C.

Gamble removed everything in the old kitchen but kept the layout the same because she liked that the sink was beneath the window and the range was on the full wall to the left.

Navy base cabinets give the kitchen a fresh, updated look and balance the white upper cabinets, grounding the space but keeping it open and airy. Generous countertop space and a larger sink, range and refrigerator deliver more function. “I love cooking, so I’m in love with the kitchen,” Angela says.

Dior vintage counter stools in brass and wood: Zin Home; Garrison round pendant lights: Arteriors Home; Contour pendant light (over sink) in clear glass and brass: Jamie Young Co.

Find a kitchen designer and get started on your dream kitchen

Before Photo

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

Before: Besides having cabinets that were falling apart, the original kitchen had inadequate countertop space. A high-top table wasn’t at a comfortable height for prepping meals.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

After: A new 6½-foot island anchors the remodeled kitchen. Gamble ran the marble-look quartz countertop up the wall to form the backsplash, creating a clean, consistent design that works well in an open plan. “In a small space, simplicity and consistency go a long way,” she says. “Too many materials would fight with each other.”

Before Photo

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

Before: Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the original kitchen was a wall separating it from the living room, which isolated Angela from guests while she cooked.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

After: Taking down the wall became the single most important design move, making the home feel larger and allowing Angela to do what she loves while staying connected to friends and family during large gatherings. “Everything about it is more functional, and it’s open and still a great place for entertaining,” Gamble says.

Watch now: Don’t miss Taraji P. Henson surprising her stepmom with a home makeover

Before Photo

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

Before: Looking toward the kitchen from the original living room, you can see how the wall completely blocked the kitchen.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

After: With the wall down, the kitchen now feels like part of the main living space.

Enzo Lawson sofa in Sky Neutral: Jennifer Taylor Home; entryway console table in gold: Uttermost; entryway artwork: Renwil

Before Photo

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

Before: The wall also reduced the connection between the living room and the dining area, glimpsed through the opening on the right portion of the wall.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

After: The two areas now enjoy more connectivity.

Gamble used the same quartz from the kitchen to update the fireplace surround. “It’s a great way to tie everything together,” she says.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

As for the furnishings, Gamble and Taraji wanted something a little softer. “We just wanted it to feel light, open, airy and comfortable,” Gamble says. Leaning heavily on whites and grays helped her achieve that.

Angela entertains a lot, so maximizing seating was a top priority. “Not everyone wants to cram on a sectional,” Gamble says. Instead, sofas, chairs and a bench offer a lot of options. “The bench serves multiple purposes,” she says. “You can put a tray on it, put your feet up or sit on it.”

Taraji’s father was a metal fabricator and artist. A couple of his pieces now hang on the wall to the right of the fireplace. He also built the coffee table.

Chinook wooden spike sculpture (in fireplace): ELK Group International; Chapra pleated pillows in gray: Kosas; Pamela triple gourd ceramic lamps in white: Safavieh; paint: Edgecomb Gray (walls), White Opulence (trim) and Metropolis (mantel), Benjamin Moore

Before Photo

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

Before: In the original dining area, a large hutch made the room feel cramped, and a small window on the left didn’t bring in sufficient natural light.

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

After: Gamble knocked out the small window and added a sliding door that expanded the livable space in the home by giving Angela direct access to the patio. “That alone completely transformed the space,” Gamble says. “It was a total game changer.”

A printed grasscloth covers the back wall. “It’s happy, it’s feminine, but not over the top,” Gamble says. “It really helps bring the entire space together.”

Andromeda pendant light in brass with clear acrylic rods: Robert Abbey; Deco sunburst mirror and Cinder table lamps: Safavieh; Carter dining chairs in Dark Moon canvas: Four Hands; Townsend skirted dining chairs in gray: Zin Home

Stephanie Gamble Interiors

This floor plan shows the new open layout with the kitchen in the top left corner, the dining area in the top right and the living room below.

“People who give, give, give — they never expect,” Taraji says. “She didn’t expect this.”

“I feel very blessed Taraji was thinking about me,” Angela says. “And I’m really, really going to enjoy the home.”

Watch now: See the latest episode of Houzz TV featuring Taraji P. Henson

Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover

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